Kitchenspiration {Link-up}

It's time for another round of Kitchenspiration!
Chelsea and I are SO excited to bring you this weekly link-up! Kitchenspiration is all about ANYTHING that inspires you in the kitchen. 

This can be:

-Recipes you've tried or want to try

-Weekly meal plans

-Pinterest recipe ideas

-Food related tips

-Your favorite kitchen essentials

The possibilities are endless!

You can link-up a brand new post OR link-up anything food/meal/recipe related from your blog that you posted within the previous week.

Before you scroll down to link up:

***Check out some Kitchenspiration from this past week on NTSST:
Chicken Tortilla Soup
My Weekly Meal Plan

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<a href="http://www.neverthesamespicetwice.com/p/how-i-plan.html" title="Never The Same Spice Twice"><img src="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/KitchenspirationButton_zpsf7734949.jpg" alt="Never The Same Spice Twice" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

What's cooking this week?

What a Sunday! We just got back from a trip to the mall. Ella had her first encounter with Santa and she didn't scream in his face....WIN! When I was pregnant I remember wondering what this day would be like. It was even more fun than I imagined it would be. Before I get to photos, here is what's cooking...

Sunday: Chicken Francese with Smashed Baked Potatoes
Monday: Turkey Meatloaf and Mal's Crock Pot Baked Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday: Shrimp Tacos
Wednesday: Honey Sesame Chicken
Thursday: BLT's

My festive little sweetie was slightly sleepy but I was so proud of her for being such a good girl with Santa. It seems she set a good first impression! Her little outfit was SO adorable...while it lasted. Of course she would have a poop explosion! Good thing it was AFTER she was on Santa's lap. Mamma's always prepared for these mishaps. It sure happens enough!

 Last night was my work Christmas party - Stephen and I got a sitter (she rocks, thanks Sarah) and went out for the first time just the two of us. It was a good time full of lots of laughs. I'm so fortunate to work with some really amazing people! It's been a great weekend, and it's not over yet. There is still plenty of time to snuggle on the couch with my little family and watch some Christmas movies. First though....I'm going to make some yummy din!
Happy Sunday loves!

Ella's Three Month Update

Our little girl is THREE months old already (since last week)! Ella Rose is such a sweetheart, somehow I find a way to love her more and more every day!

Even when she is making angry faces at me, I can't help but laugh a little. She is just too stinkin' easy to love!

It was really hard to believe, but turns out you were all right! Three months is a magical time where everything just completely seems to fall into place. Granted things started improving once I cut the dairy from my diet, but now we are in the zone! She has been SO good, this kid has improved tremendously. It seemed like I would never use the words "Ella" and "content" in a sentence...but it's happened! Yes, she has a rough patch every so often (who doesn't?) but they are much fewer and farther between.

Our 12 lb. 2 oz. little fatty is a growing girl! Her rolls have rolls, it's adorable. I'm not sure how long she is but she is starting to outgrow some of her three month onesies already. Hubs and I have packed up a bunch of her clothes...so sad! Her hair is a very light brown and she is getting that bald spot on the back of her head that most kids get. Her eyes are still very light. Lately they have been gold on the inside, and grayish on the outside...I'm thinking they may end up hazel? Who knows, but it's fun seeing how they change. The latest development has been the sweet little sounds she has been making. We've noticed that the past two days she has been coo-ing up a storm!

Day in and day out I'm just amazed by how much she is learning. She is super interactive and smiley, it's so fun! I crack up when she imitates us by sticking out her tongue. Her neck is still a tiny bit wobbly, we  can only keep her in her Bumbo chair for very short periods of time. She loves it even if it is only for a few minutes.  Although most of the time I need to place objects in her hands, she is beginning to reach out and grab some toys. She especially loves her little crinkle toys. They go into her mouth immediately. Between all the drool and her constantly eating her hands I'm convinced she is teething. Is it too early for that? She hasn't rolled over yet but she has mastered the "superman" move when she's on her tummy...I'm sure rolling is getting close.

Another one of her newest things that she started a few weeks ago is that she rolls up and grabs her toes. When she is sitting on my lap it's like she is always trying to do crunches. I call her my little roly poly!

Since she is getting strong and starting to scooch (is that not a word?) around, we have to be sure to buckle her into her swing and glider every time! I'm guilty of just plopping her down (supervised of course)...but not anymore. 

I can sort of say that she usually sleeps through the night, however we do put her down late and wake up really early. She is sleeping 5-6 hour stretches in her own room now. The transition into her crib went a little too well. It hasn't even been a week yet so I don't want to jinx it. Since I've gone back to work she has been doing phenomenally at daycare. I'll save those details for another post though! 

I think I covered everything! She has grown in so many ways between two and three months. I can only imagine what the next month will bring! We are so ridiculously in love with this little sweetie! 

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

If the "Soup of the Day" is Chicken Tortilla...you better believe I'm ordering it! Ask anyone who has ever been out to eat with me. Usually my eyes light up the instant I hear it's on the menu! As soon as I'm done doing the "dairy free thing" for Ella, I plan to make this and load it up with cheese! Honestly though, it was still good without it! Sorry for the crummy picture of this deliciousness. I was in a rush to eat before Ella woke up!

Ingredients:

2 Boneless skinless chicken breasts - SHREDDED

1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil

1 onion - chopped

1 jalapeno - seeded and chopped (optional)

2 cloves of garlic - minced

1 large zucchini - chopped

2 10 oz. cans of Rotel tomatoes with cilantro

2 tbsp of tomato paste

1 can of black beans - drained and rinsed

1 cup of corn

32 oz of chicken broth

The juice of one lime

1 tsp of chili powder

1 tsp of cumin

1/2 tsp of oregano

1/2 tsp of paprika

salt and pepper (to taste)

1 handful of cilantro - chopped

Toppings:

4 Corn tortillas - sliced into 1/4 inch strips

2 avocado's - diced

Cheese, sour cream - optional for topping

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees - spread tortilla strips out on a baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

2. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat - sauté onions, jalapeno, garlic, and zucchini until they begin to soften (about 5 minutes).

3. Add tomatoes, paste, black beans, corn, broth, lime juice, and all the seasoning - bring to a boil then lower to a simmer and add shredded chicken and cilantro.

4. Cook on low partially covered for 30 minutes.

5. Serve by topping with tortilla strips, avocado, shredded cheese and/or sour cream. 

Enjoy!!!

Kitchenspiration {Link-up}

It's time for another round of Kitchenspiration!
Chelsea and I are SO excited to bring you this weekly link-up! Kitchenspiration is all about ANYTHING that inspires you in the kitchen. 

This can be:

-Recipes you've tried or want to try

-Weekly meal plans

-Pinterest recipe ideas

-Food related tips

-Your favorite kitchen essentials

The possibilities are endless!

You can link-up a brand new post OR link-up anything food/meal/recipe related from your blog that you posted within the previous week.

Before you scroll down to link up:

***Check out some Kitchenspiration from this past week on NTSST:
My Weekly Meal Plan

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.neverthesamespicetwice.com/p/how-i-plan.html" title="Never The Same Spice Twice"><img src="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/KitchenspirationButton_zpsf7734949.jpg" alt="Never The Same Spice Twice" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up